[yesterdaysyouth]

of the commericaly available factory loads, what would be the most effective on whitetail???

keep in mind around here a good size buck might weigh 200lbs before it's dressed... most does probally just under that, and with unlimited doe this year, im going to take it upon myself to thin this out of control herd.... before CWD or starvation does it for me...

most shots won't be over 150 -200 yards at most, more likely to be 35-50 yards with plently of brush between....

later
john

[Legionnaire]

Hmmm. Others may disagree, but I don't consider .223 a deer cartridge. My personal minimum is a .243. I'll be interested to see what others suggest.

[NRA4LIFE]

You may want to check if it's even legal first. I've hunted in several states that do not allow any 22 calibers for big game. I tend to agree with the first post, it is underpowered for whitetails. Plus it is horrible in brushy conditions, very susceptible to ricochets. I've used my mini-14 on pronghorn and even killed a large muley doe with it but that was a real close in shot, completely out in the open.

[Byron]

In Georgia the 223 is legal for deer. Many use the 64 grain Winchester and some use the 55 Nosler Ballistic. They all have had very successful kills. I know it is controversial but my I know many that use it and it seems as effective as most woods cartridges. The Federal 69 grain load using the Sierra bullet has a good reputation. Byron

[LeonCarr]

.223 whitetail load - Winchester 64 grain Power Point or Power Point Plus. The Power Point has the plain copper jacket, the Power Point Plus has the black coating (Lubalox I think it is called). Either one is rated by Winchester as a deer bullet (CXP2). The Power Point shoots 1" groups at 100 yards from my bone-stock 20" Bushmaster A2. I have not tried it on deer yet, but I have two buddies who have killed deer with this load, both inside 100 yards, one lung shot and one neck shot. Both deer were cleanly killed. With proper shot placement, in capable hands, inside 100 yards, IMNSHO it will kill deer.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[yesterdaysyouth]

it is legal here, with the PC 10 rnd mag....

if a heavier bullet is out there that i could load i shouldn't have a problem with 80 gr... with the 1/8 twist....

i think i'll order up the winchester loads and see how they do...

[saddlebum]

i've shot lots of does with the 64gr winchester load out of a 21" contender carbine. most shots have been under 100yds and most shot in the neck. bum

[Art Eatman]

If you're really calm, cool and collected when you shoot Bambi, and you're really sure of your shot placement, you can get away with using a .223. I'd never take an angling shot, nor feel comfortable if the range is out beyond 100 yards.

A 200-lb live-weight deer is gonna dress out around 140 pounds, roughly, and that's getting toward respectability. The bones are going to be a bit heavier. IMO, a not-perfect effort on a neck or heart shot could easily mean a lost deer.

Me, I just wouldn't use a .223. Smallish deer, I'm happy with a .243, but when they start dressing out around 140 or 150 pounds and up, I want that little extra insurance from heavier bullets.

FWIW, Art

[yesterdaysyouth]

perhaps i'll start doing some double tap drills.....

[Dr.Rob]

Get the heaviest soft pointed controlled expansion bulet you can get (though at 223 velocity controlled expansion might be a misnomer), or better yet, get a rifle or shotgun with a bigger bore.

223 doesn't leave you much margin for error.